Smart antenna with multiple round selection

ABSTRACT

A smart antenna system for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and beams. The system comprises a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem, providing a plurality of beams. Each beam has a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference. The system performs scanning of different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of the fixed base stations. The test links use at least some of the different channels and the different beams, select a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establish a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/970,059, filed Aug. 19, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/644,852, filed Oct. 4, 2012, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,516, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed towards antenna systems for mobile devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication is extensively used in mobile or nomadic applications.

In a typical mobile/nomadic application, a mobile or nomadic wireless device or mobile station will try to establish a link with a fixed base station, so as to transmit information to the base station. To achieve coverage of the desired area, multiple base-stations must be used. FIG. 1 shows an example of a system used to support a mobile application. Mobile station 111 will try to establish a link with one of base stations 121 and 122, as it travels along path 131.

Typical solutions for mobile or nomadic wireless devices use omnidirectional antennas that are isotropic or have similar properties, for example gain, in all directions of interest.

While mobile/nomadic devices use omnidirectional antennas, strict separation between base-stations covering adjacent areas is required to avoid harmful self-interference.

Separation can be achieved through:

-   -   Time, that is, the base stations do not transmit and receive at         the same time,     -   Frequency, that is, the base stations transmit and receive on         different frequencies, or     -   Code, that is, the base stations transmit and receive using         different codes.     -   All these methods reduce the total system capacity.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the coverage 403 for base-station 401 and the coverage 404 for the base-station 402 when both base-stations use the same frequency channel, and the three mobile/nomadic devices 406, 407 and 408 use omnidirectional antennas. This assumes there are no other time or code methods used to reduce interference between the two base-stations 401 and 402. As can be seen, much of the area of interest 405 is not adequately covered. Mobile device 406 receives coverage, that is, it can establish an operating link with better than threshold signal quality from base station 401 in area 403. Similarly mobile device 407 receives coverage from base station 402 in area 404. However, mobile device 408 cannot receive coverage from either base station 401 or 402 because the signal quality is not good enough. This is because the omnidirectional antenna captures signals from the two base-stations 401 and 402 and needs to be very close to one of them and very far from the other to obtain the needed signal quality.

In order to solve the problem shown in FIG. 2, there is a need for a system that has omnidirectional coverage, but is able to focus on one sector so as to optimize signal quality to enable communications with the highest reliability. Until now, systems have focused on optimizing signal strength, which may not result in enabling communications with the highest reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a smart antenna system for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and different beams, said smart antenna system comprising a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem, said antenna subsystem providing a plurality of beams, each beam having a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference; said control subsystem, radio transceiver and antenna subsystem coupled to each other to perform scanning of different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, select a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establish a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and a plurality of beams, each beam having a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference, said method comprising scanning different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, selecting a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establishing a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and a plurality of beams, each beam within the plurality of beams having a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference, said method comprising establishing a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal using a first combination of base station, channel and beam and if said establishment of first operating link on said first combination fails, further scanning different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said different fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, selecting a second combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establishing a second operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using a second combination of base station, channel and beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system used to support a mobile application.

FIG. 2 shows example coverage of a given area for a mobile/nomadic device or station with an omnidirectional antenna.

FIG. 3 shows a smart antenna system.

FIG. 4 shows a radiation pattern for beam 200.

FIG. 5 shows an example radiation pattern for arrangement 300.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the process when the smart antenna system 100 becomes active.

FIG. 6A shows one embodiment for determining the operating channel and the best-performing beam from a candidate set of channels and beams.

FIG. 6B is the flowchart of the process for another embodiment when the smart antenna system 100 becomes active.

FIG. 6C shows a sequence of steps for the tracking process.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative example of the advantage of making selections of base station, operating channel and beam based on signal quality over signal strength.

FIG. 8 shows example coverage of a given area for a mobile/nomadic device or station with a smart antenna with the same base stations and the same area of interest as in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Although the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings and referring first to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a smart antenna system 100 consisting of radio transceiver 101 to transmit over a wireless link; an antenna subsystem 102; and a control subsystem 103. Information can be passed between the radio transceiver 101, antenna subsystem 102 and control subsystem 103. For example, the control subsystem 103 can receive information, including, but not limited to wireless link quality information; and other information such as base station operating capacity and base station load/utilization; from either or both of the radio transceiver 101 and the antenna subsystem 102. The control subsystem 103 can process this information and command either or both of the radio transceiver 101 and antenna subsystem 102 accordingly. The smart antenna system 100 is designed to be installed in, for example, a mobile/nomadic device or station which establishes a wireless link to a base station.

The radio transceiver 101 performs several different functions, including but not limited to, for example, transmitting and receiving information on the available operating channels; obtaining data to compute signal quality measures such as signal to noise ratio (SNR) and signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR); and computing these measures either by itself or together with the control subsystem 103. In one embodiment, the operating channel to be used for transmitting and receiving is set by the control subsystem 103. The radio transceiver can transmit on more than one channel. This allows the smart antenna system to have “background” operation. For example, while transmitting and receiving on a channel used in a current operating link in the foreground, the control subsystem 103 can direct the radio transceiver 101 to transmit and receive on other channels used in, for example, test links which have been set up in the background.

The antenna subsystem 102 provides multiple beams that can be selected by the control subsystem 103. The multiple beams can be produced by independent antennas, by beam-steering or by beam-forming. These techniques are well known to one having skill in the art.

Each beam provides nulls (directions in which signal is strongly attenuated) that can be used to eliminate interference. FIG. 4 shows an example radiation pattern of such a beam 200, where the main lobe 201 of the beam covers the 90° sector between lines 201-A and 201-B, while the lateral lobes 202 and 203 provide some attenuation and the back-lobe 204 provides very strong attenuation.

The sum of the coverage of all beams provides omnidirectional coverage. FIG. 5 shows an example radiation pattern for such an arrangement 300, where the beam 200 of FIG. 4, with only main lobe 201 shown for simplicity, is repeated 8 times as beams 301-308 at 45° intervals for 360° coverage. Beams 301-308 are overlapping to ensure low ripple in omnidirectional coverage. The ripple 310 is the difference between maximum gain and the minimum gain obtainable using all available beams.

The ability of the antenna subsystem 102 to provide multiple beams allows for “background” operation on other beams. This, together with the ability of the radio transceiver 101, to transmit and receive on other channels, means that the control subsystem 103 can establish test links in the background on different channels and beams, to the channel and beam used by the current operating link running in the foreground.

The control subsystem 103 is the controller of the smart antenna system 100. The control subsystem 103 commands, controls, co-ordinates and manages the operation of the antenna subsystem 102 and radio transceiver 101. As explained previously, the control subsystem 103 can receive information, such as wireless link status from either or both of the radio transceiver 101 and the antenna subsystem 102. When link status is active, the control subsystem 103 can collect information related to, for example, signal quality; and other information such as base station operating capacity and base station load/utilization; from the radio transceiver 101, or both the radio transceiver 101 and antenna subsystem 102.

The control subsystem 103 can process this collected information and send commands and control instructions to either or both of the radio transceiver 101 and antenna subsystem 102 accordingly.

As previously explained, the control subsystem 103 collects information related to signal quality. Various measures of signal quality can then be calculated. These measures include signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER) and packet error rate (PER). As explained previously, in one embodiment the control subsystem 103 collects this information, and then together with the radio transceiver 101 calculates measures such as SNR and SINR. In another embodiment, the radio transceiver 101 calculates these measures on its own. In a further embodiment, the control subsystem 103 together with the radio transceiver calculates a signal quality score for each base station based on a function which takes in one or more of signal quality measures such as SNR, BER, PER and SINR as inputs, and produces the score as the output. For example, in one embodiment the control subsystem 103 calculates a weighted average based on SNR and SINR. In another embodiment, a weighted average is first calculated, then compared against a threshold, and used to calculate a performance score. The control subsystem 103 can store also store historical signal quality information, and other information for future use.

In one embodiment, the control subsystem 103 is an independent module. In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 is integrated with the other radio transceiver 101 control functions. The control subsystem 103 can be implemented in hardware, software, or some combination of hardware and software. In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 is installed as software on, for example, the radio transceiver 101.

When the smart antenna system becomes active, for example, when it is:

-   -   powered up;     -   returned from sleep; or     -   turned active by the user;         the control subsystem 103 then performs scanning of combinations         of base stations, channels and beams, that is, it establishes         test links to base stations with different channels and beams         using the radio transceiver 101 and the antenna subsystem 102,         and performs analysis of results obtained from these test links         to select the best combination of base station, channel and         beam.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the process when the smart antenna system 100 becomes active. In optional step 601, the control subsystem 103 selects a subset of the available beams and channels before the commencement of the scanning process, and then performs scanning using the selected subset. In one embodiment, control subsystem 103 selects the subset based on historical signal quality. As previously explained, signal quality can be measured by, for example, one of SNR, BER, PER and SINR. As explained previously, in one embodiment the control subsystem 103 together with the radio transceiver 101 calculates measures such as SNR and SINR. In another embodiment, the radio transceiver 101 calculates these measures on its own. In a further embodiment, the control subsystem 103 together with the radio transceiver 101 calculates a signal quality score for each base station based on a function which takes in one or more of signal quality measures such as SNR BER, PER and SINR as inputs, and produces the score as the output. For example, in one embodiment the control subsystem 103 calculates a weighted average based on SNR BER, PER and SINR. In another embodiment, a weighted average is first calculated, then compared against a threshold, and used to calculate a performance score.

In another embodiment, in optional step 601, the control subsystem 103 uses geo-location information, for example, the location of the mobile/nomadic device relative to the base-stations, to select the subset of the available channels and beams. In yet another embodiment, positional/motion information obtained, for example, from sensors in the mobile/nomadic device are used by the control subsystem 103 in optional step 601 to select the subset of the available channels and beams. Examples of positional/motion information include velocity of the device, acceleration of the device, direction of travel of the device, orientation of the device, angular velocity of the device, angular acceleration of the device and altitude of device. In yet another embodiment, the subset of the available channels and beams is selected by control subsystem 103 based on user input and instructions.

In yet another embodiment, the subset of the available channels and beams is selected in optional step 601 based on at least one of historical signal quality, geo-location information, user input/instructions and positional/motion information.

In yet another embodiment, in optional step 601 the control subsystem 103 uses the fact that the beams are overlapping to select a subset of beams to perform scanning

Steps 602-604 detail the scanning process. In step 602, the control subsystem 103 determines the best-performing combination of base station, channel and beam. It does so by attempting to establish wireless test links to base stations, using a set of candidate channels and beams comprising at least some of the one or more available channels, and some of the one or more available beams. In one embodiment, the candidate set is all available channels and beams. In another embodiment, the candidate set is the subset of channels and beams selected using one of the methods outlined above.

For each wireless test link that the control subsystem 103 successfully establishes with a base station, the control subsystem 103 collects information relating to signal quality of the test link. As previously explained, signal quality can be measured by SNR, BER, PER or SINR. In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 uses the test link to collect information including, but not limited to, base station operating capacity; and base station load/utilization. In a further embodiment, control subsystem 103 uses the test link to collect information on packet drop rate at the base station.

The control subsystem 103 then measures the performance for the combination of base station, channel and beam. In one embodiment, performance is measured by signal quality. As previously explained, signal quality can be measured by SNR or SINR. In one embodiment the control subsystem 103 together with the radio transceiver 101 calculates SNR and SINR. In another embodiment, the radio transceiver 101 calculates these measures on its own. In an alternative embodiment, the control subsystem 103 together with the radio transceiver 101 further calculates a signal quality score based on a function which takes in one or more of signal quality measures such as SNR and SINR as inputs, and produces the score as the output. One example of such a function is a weighted average. Another example of such a function is where a weighted average is first calculated, then compared against a threshold, and used to calculate a performance score.

In another embodiment, performance can be measured by calculating a score for each combination based on a function which takes in one or more of signal quality measures such as SNR and SINR; base station operating capacity; and base station load/utilization as inputs, and produces the score as an output. For example, in one embodiment, the control subsystem 103 calculates a weighted average based on SINR, base station operating capacity; and base station load/utilization; and selects the base station with the best weighted average. In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 first calculates the weighted average, then compares against a threshold, and uses the comparison to calculate a final performance score. In a further embodiment, if base station load is used as an input, then different estimates of base station load can be used. In one embodiment, control subsystem 103 uses the current load as an estimate of base station load. In another embodiment, control subsystem 103 uses the estimated final load of the base station, that is, the load assuming that the traffic through the base station is the sum of the current traffic through the base station and the anticipated traffic to and from the mobile device sent through the base station. In yet another embodiment, the control subsystem obtains packet drop rate information from the base station, and uses this obtained information to estimate the base station load.

FIG. 6A shows one embodiment to perform step 602 for a candidate set of channels and beams. In FIG. 6A, control subsystem 103 scans all channels in the candidate set, and for each channel, all available beams in the candidate set. In step 620, control subsystem 103 selects a first channel and a first beam from the candidate set. In step 621, control subsystem 103 attempts to establish a test link to a base station using the first channel and the first beam in the candidate set. If this is successful, (step 622) then in step 623 the control subsystem 103 records performance for every base station, channel and beam for which a test link is successfully established.

In step 624, the control subsystem 103 checks to see if all beams have been used. If not, then, in step 625, the control subsystem 103 selects the next beam in the candidate set and returns to step 621. If all beams have been used, then in step 626 the control subsystem 103 checks to see if all channels have been used. If not, then in step 627, the control subsystem selects the next channel in the candidate set and returns to step 621. If all channels have been used, the control subsystem 103 then moves to step 603.

In another embodiment in step 602, the control subsystem 103 scans beams in the candidate set, and for each beam, it scans all channels in the candidate set.

Once this is complete, then in step 603 the control subsystem 103 builds a list showing performance for all combinations of base station, channel and beam.

In step 604 the control subsystem 103 selects the best performing combination of base-station, channel and beam based on the information it collected in steps 602 and 603. In one embodiment, selection is performed using a multiple round process, wherein each round has a corresponding criterion. In this multiple round process, there is at least one initial round followed by a final round. In each initial round, a corresponding portion of the combinations entered into the round is selected based on the criterion. This corresponding portion comprises the best combination, and any other combinations falling within a defined margin of the best combination. The corresponding portion is then entered into the following round. In the final round, the best combination is selected from the portion entered into the final round. If during any initial round the corresponding portion only comprises one combination, then the process is ended and the single combination is selected.

For example, in a three-round process, the first and second rounds are initial rounds, and the third round is the final round. In the first round, combinations are ranked according to the first criterion corresponding to the first round. A first portion comprising the best combination and all combinations within a first defined margin are selected. The first portion is then entered into the second round. In the second round, the combinations within the first portion are ranked according to the second criterion corresponding to the second round. A second portion comprising the best combination and all combinations within a second defined margin are selected. This continues until the final round wherein the best combination is selected. Example criteria include signal quality, signal strength, base station capacity and base station load.

A further example is provided. In one embodiment, a two-round process is used. The first criterion corresponding to the first round is signal quality. Then, in the first round, signal quality for each combination is measured using, for example, one or more of SNR, SINR, BER and PER; or a signal quality score as previously described. The combinations are then ranked in descending order. Then, a first portion of the combinations comprising the best combination and the combinations within a first defined margin from the best combination are selected for entry into the next round. For example, if rankings are based on SINR, the combination with the best SINR is chosen. Then, a first portion of combinations comprising those combinations within a first defined margin of N dB is chosen for entry into the next round. For example, if the best combination has an SINR of 20 dB and the defined margin is 1 dB, then a first portion of combinations comprising all the combinations with SINR between 19 and 20 dB are chosen for entry into the second round.

In the second round, the corresponding second criterion is used to rank the combinations within the first portion. For example, if the second criterion is signal strength, then the combinations within the first portion are ranked in order of signal strength. Then the combination with the best signal strength is chosen.

Another example of a two round process is explained. In this example, the first criterion corresponding to the first round is base station load. The first defined margin is, for example, 10%. The second criterion corresponding to the second round is signal strength. Then in the first round, the first portion comprises the best combination and all combinations within 10% of the best combination. In the second round, all combinations within the first portion are ranked based on signal strength. The combination with the best signal strength is chosen. In another example, the first criterion is base station load and the second criterion is signal quality.

At the end of the scanning process, in step 605, the control subsystem 103 then establishes an operating link to the selected base-station using the selected operating channel and beam Communication over the operating link is carried out in step 606. In a further embodiment, if the operating link is not successfully established in step 605, then the control subsystem 103 establishes an operating link to the next best combination of base station, operating channel and beam, and communication over the operating link is carried out in step 606.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, in step 610, when the smart antenna system 100 becomes active, the control subsystem 103 configures the radio transceiver 101 first, and then the antenna subsystem 102 to connect with the base station and establish an operating link on the channel and with the beam on which an operating link was last established. If operating link establishment fails (step 610A), then control subsystem 103 performs steps 612-616, which are similar to steps 602-606 described above. In one embodiment, similar to as described previously for step 601, control subsystem 103 may optionally perform step 611, which is selecting a subset of the available channels and beams for the candidate set in step 612.

In one embodiment, after the operating link is established the base station, channel and beam selection remain fixed until the operating link is lost. Once the operating link is lost, the control subsystem 103 performs steps 602-606 of FIG. 6. In one embodiment, similar to as described previously, control subsystem 103 additionally performs step 601.

In another embodiment, after the operating link is established, the control subsystem 103 performs tracking, that is, the control subsystem 103 continues to search for a better combination of base station, channel and beam than the currently selected combination of base station, operating channel and beam. In one embodiment, the control subsystem 103 performs tracking in the background; while communication over the currently established operating link is ongoing.

FIG. 6C shows a sequence of steps involved in tracking.

In a further embodiment, the control subsystem 103 optionally performs step 631 of FIG. 6, that is, it selects a new subset of channels and beams to be used in the tracking process using at least one of signal quality, geo-location and positional/motion information as outlined above.

In another embodiment, in step 631, positional/motion information, examples of which have been previously detailed, can be used together with geo-location information of the device to predict the path of the device, and orientation of the device along this predicted path. Based on this predicted path/orientation and other information such as geo-location information of the base stations; subsets of the base stations, beams and channels which are likely to provide better links in the future can be pre-loaded for tracking. In another embodiment, predicted path and orientation are calculated by a subsystem external to the smart antenna, and this information is communicated to the smart antenna to be pre-loaded for the tracking process.

In step 632, the control subsystem 103 determines performance for all combinations of base station, channel and beam other than the currently selected combination. In one embodiment, similar to step 602, it does so by using a candidate set of channels and beams to establish test links to base stations. In one embodiment, the candidate set is the subset of beams and channels previously selected in step 601 of FIG. 6. In another embodiment, the candidate set is the subset of beams and channels selected in optional step 631. In yet another embodiment, the candidate set is the set of all available channels and beams. In one embodiment, performance is determined using the multiple round process described earlier.

In one embodiment, in step 632 the control subsystem 103 performs steps 620-627 of FIG. 6A for all combinations of base station, channel and beam other than the currently selected combination.

In another embodiment, in step 632, control subsystem 103 searches for a better beam by testing the performance of other beams while the operating link is running on the currently selected beam. In one embodiment, control subsystem 103 performs searching by periodically instructing the antenna subsystem 102 to switch between the currently selected beam and its neighbors to detect if any of the neighboring beams offer a better signal quality. This switching can be carried out, for example, during a period between data transmissions such as for example, a gap between packets or bursts of packets. In another embodiment, these gaps or periods are inserted between data transmissions to specifically allow such switching to occur.

In one embodiment, the control subsystem 103 tests the signal quality on the neighboring beam using normal data packets on the neighboring beam. In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 instructs the antenna subsystem 102 to switch from the currently selected beam to a neighboring beam during a period between data transmissions, and then tests the signal quality on the neighboring beam, using special channel sounding packets on the neighboring beam. Control subsystem 103 then instructs the antenna subsystem 102 to switch back to the currently selected beam and resumes transmission of normal data packets. This is done to ensure that the delivery of data packets is not affected in case the signal quality on the neighboring beam is very poor.

In one embodiment, in optional step 633, the control subsystem 103 builds a list showing performance for all combinations of base stations, channels and beams in step 633. As previously explained, performance may be measured by signal quality or other measures, or a combination of signal quality and other measures. As explained previously, performance can be measured using the multiple round process described earlier. As has also been previously explained, signal quality can be measured by, for example, SNR, SINR, or a score calculated from a function which takes in measures such as SNR and SINR as inputs, and produces the score as an output.

If, for example, using the list built in step 633, or otherwise, the control subsystem 103 finds a better combination of base station, channel and beam than the currently selected combination of base station, channel and beam (step 633A), then it moves to select the better combination in step 634. In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 selects the better combination in step 634, only if the control subsystem 103 determines that the improvement in signal quality persists for a predefined period.

If not, then control subsystem 103 continues searching for a better combination of base station, operating channel and beam. In one embodiment, this involves selecting a new subset of available channels and beams (step 631).

After the control subsystem 103 has selected the better combination in step 634, in step 635 the control subsystem 103 establishes a new operating link to the selected base station using the new channel and beam.

In step 636, communication over the newly established operating link begins.

In another embodiment, the control subsystem 103 searches for a standby combination of base station, channel and beam, in case the current operating link fails. In one embodiment, the control subsystem 103 periodically performs steps 631-633 of FIG. 6C in the background. If the current operating link fails, then the control subsystem 103 selects the best combination of base station, channel and beam identified; establishes a new operating link over this combination; and communicates over this newly established operating link.

The process outlined above to select base station, operating channel and beam based on signal quality offers advantages over making decisions based on signal strength. An illustrative example of these advantages is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 which shows a mobile device 701 containing a smart antenna system, with wireless test links to base stations 702 and 703. Device 701 determines that base station 702 provides better signal quality than base station 703. Device 701 then has to select a beam. It decides to select beam 712 over beam 711, for the following reason: Device 701 can establish a test link to base station 702 with either beam 711 or 712 because it is in the area 713 in which the two beams overlap. The signal strength for base station 702 using beam 711 is stronger than beam 712 because base station 702 is closer to the center of beam 711. However, if the control subsystem 103 selected beam 711, then it would have to contend with interference from base station 703, and therefore the SINR would be lower. Control subsystem 103 chooses beam 712 because it offers lower interference, and consequently a better signal quality, than with beam 711.

FIG. 8 shows the coverage for the base stations 401 and 402 of FIG. 2 but with the mobile/nomadic devices 511 and 513 using smart antennas. Compared to FIG. 2 the coverage 503 for the base-station 401 and the coverage 504 for the base-station 402 are much larger, almost covering the entire area of interest 405. Mobile device 511 selects beam 512 that provides good signal strength from base station 401 and provides good isolation from (rejection of) base station 402, which means good SINR and therefore signal quality. Similarly mobile device 513 selects beam 514 that includes base station 402 but excludes base station 401.

While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A smart antenna system for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and different beams, said smart antenna system comprising a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem, said antenna subsystem providing a plurality of beams, each beam having a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference; said control subsystem, radio transceiver and antenna subsystem coupled to each other to perform scanning of different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, select a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establish a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.
 2. The smart antenna system of claim 1 in which said control subsystem selects a subset of channels and beams, and said scanning uses said selected subset of channels and beams.
 3. The smart antenna system of claim 1 in which said selecting of a first combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on at least one of signal quality, base station operating capacity and base station load.
 4. The smart antenna system of claim 3 wherein said selecting of a first combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on signal quality, and further wherein said signal quality is measured using at least one of SINR, SNR, BER and PER.
 5. The smart antenna system of claim 3 wherein said base station load is estimated based on one of current load, estimated final load of the base station, and packet drop rate.
 6. The smart antenna system of claim 1 wherein after establishing said first operating link, said control subsystem performs continued scanning using one or more test links established with one or more combinations of base stations, channels and beams; selects a second combination of base station, channel and beam based on the continued scanning; and establishes a second operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station from said second combination, using selected channel and beam from said second combination.
 7. The smart antenna system of claim 6, in which said selection of a second combination of base station, channel and beam is effected in response to at least one of failure of said first operating link, and finding a better-performing combination of base station, channel and beam during continued scanning than said first combination of base station, channel and beam used to establish said first operating link.
 8. The smart antenna system of claim 6 in which said selecting of a second combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on at least one of signal quality, base station operating capacity and base station load.
 9. The smart antenna system of claim 6, wherein said continued scanning is performed using special channel sounding packets.
 10. The smart antenna system of claim 1, wherein if establishment of said first operating link fails, the control subsystem selects a second combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establishes a second operating link, using said selected second combination of base station, channel and beam.
 11. The smart antenna system of claim 1 in which said selecting of a first combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on a multiple round process, and wherein each round of said multiple round process has a corresponding criterion.
 12. The smart antenna system of claim 11, wherein said multiple round process comprises at least one initial round followed by a final round, wherein each of the at least one initial round has a corresponding defined margin; and during each of the at least one initial round a corresponding portion is chosen for entry into the following round based on the corresponding criterion, and said corresponding portion comprising the best-performing combination based on the corresponding criterion and one or more combinations with performances within the corresponding defined margin of the performance of the best combination.
 13. The smart antenna system of claim 12, wherein the multiple round process is a two-round process, the criterion corresponding to the first round is signal quality, wherein said signal quality is measured using at least one of SINR, SNR, BER and PER, and the criterion corresponding to the second round is signal strength.
 14. The smart antenna system of claim 12, wherein the multiple round process is a two-round process, the criterion corresponding to the first round is base station load, and the criterion corresponding to the second round is signal strength.
 15. The smart antenna system of claim 12, wherein the multiple round process is a two-round process, the criterion corresponding to the first round is base station load, and the criterion corresponding to the second round is signal quality, wherein said signal quality is measured using at least one of SINR, SNR, BER and PER.
 16. A method of communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and a plurality of beams, each beam having a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference, said method comprising scanning different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, selecting a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establishing a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting a subset of channels and beams; and said scanning uses said selected subset of channels and beams.
 18. The method of claim 16 in which said selecting of a first combination of base station, channel and beam is based on one of signal quality, base station operating capacity and base station utilization.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said selecting of a first combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on signal quality, and further wherein said selecting is based on at least one of SINR, SNR, BER and PER.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising estimating base station load based on one of current load, estimated final load of the base station, and packet drop rate.
 21. The method of claim 16 further including continuing, after establishing said first operating link, to scan using one or more test links established with one or more combinations of base stations, channels and beams, selecting a second combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establishing a second operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station from said second combination, using selected channel and beam from said second combination.
 22. The method of claim 21, in which said selecting of second combination of base station, channel and beam is effected in response to at least one of failure of said first operating link, and finding a better-performing combination of base station, channel and beam during scanning than said first combination of base station, channel and beam used in establishing said first operating link.
 23. The method of claim 21 in which said selecting of a second combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on one of signal quality, base station operating capacity and base station utilization.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein said continued scanning is performed using special channel sounding packets.
 25. The method of claim 16 in which said selecting of a first combination of a base station, channel and beam is based on a multiple round process, and wherein each round of said multiple round process has a corresponding criterion.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said multiple round process comprises at least one initial round followed by a final round, wherein each of the at least one initial round has a corresponding defined margin; and during each initial round a corresponding portion is chosen for entry into the following round based on the corresponding criterion, and said corresponding portion comprising the best-performing combination based on the corresponding criterion and one or more combinations with performances within the corresponding defined margin of the performance of the best combination.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the multiple round process is a two-round process, the criterion corresponding to the first round is signal quality, wherein said signal quality is measured based on at least one of SINR, SNR, BER and PER, and the criterion corresponding to the second round is signal strength.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the multiple round process is a two-round process, the criterion corresponding to the first round is base station load, and the criterion corresponding to the second round is signal strength.
 29. The method of claim 25, wherein the multiple round process is a two-round process, the criterion corresponding to the first round is base station load, and the criterion corresponding to the second round is signal quality, and wherein said signal quality is measured based on at least one of SINR, SNR, BER and PER.
 30. The method of claim 16, wherein if said establishing of first operating link on said first combination fails, further scanning different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said different fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, selecting a second combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establishing a second operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using a second combination of base station, channel and beam. 